Google lets users customise searches

Choose where to go and what to visit on the web

Written by Dinah Greek, Computeract!ve

Google has launched a tool that allows users to tailor their searches to the websites and blogs they are most interested in.

Google Custom Search Engine can be focused on any content the user likes, how this should be prioritised, whether others can contribute to their index, and what the search results page will look like.

People can even create search engines pointing their friends to sites about their favorite pop stars and place them on their personal homepages.

A number of sites have already used the tool to create their own custom search engines. For example, Real Climate, a site that offers expert opinion on the science of climate change is using it to point visitors to other sites it says provide reliable scientific information.

These subsets of pages on the internet have been validated by Real Climate and include government labs, research institutes as well as Real Climate research.

The website owners said: "As we get used to this service, we will be adding sites and pages that we feel are up to the mark. Suggestions for sites we might not yet have found or have overlooked, will of course be welcome."

Users can also specify whether or not the tool can be used to generate some income by using the Google Adsense program to generate advertisements from search terms.

Advertisers pay Google every time someone clicks on these adverts and, in return, people who incorporate Adsense on their custom search engines will also receive a portion of the amount paid to Google.

"We want to make it easy for anyone to create a search engine about all their favorite topics, without needing a PhD," said Marissa Mayer, Google's vice -president of search products and user experience.

"Everyone can harness the power of Google technology to create a personalised search experience that reflects specific knowledge and interests."

Tags:

Reader comments

More from Computeractive

News

The latest home computing news

Downloads

The best PC tools, applications and more

Reviews

Independent opinions on new hardware and software

Step-by-step guides

Easy-to-follow projects with pictures

PC Help

Solve PC problems with our Q&A

Videos

PC projects demonstrated and product reviews

Articles

An in-depth look at how to get the best from your PC

Magazine

What's coming up in Computeractive

Forums

Get help with your PC problems from our readers

Competitions

Your chance to win computing prizes

Shopping

Great deals on products, services and more

Computeractive CD Rom 10
All 26 issues of Computeractive from 2007 on one CD-Rom.

Ultimate Guide to PC Troubleshooting
Everything you need to know to solve your PC problems.

Driving Test Success
The UK's best-selling driving test software.

Computeractive Back Issues
Missed an issue? Click here to find a back issue

Advertisement

Blogs

Windows Watch

Windows Watch

Keeping an eye on the latest XP and Vista news

More storage added to Windows Live Skydrive

19 Nov 2008The storage limit for Windows Live Skydrive is to be increased to a very respectable 25GB . As of just now my...

Download Junkie

Download Junkie

Your daily dose of download discussion

Tweak all areas of your display hardware

21 Nov 2008Most current graphics cards will come with a number of different display options. These settings are often pre-configured on any card installed...

Advertisement

Free email newsletters

Techno babble demystified...

[Display all definitions]

Or type in any computer-related word and click "Go"

Advertisement

Computeractive is not reponsible for content of Google adverts

Primary Navigation

© Incisive Media Ltd. 2008. Incisive Media Limited, Haymarket House,
28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, is a company registered in the United Kingdom with company registration number 04038503

Search computeractive.co.uk